Rabbit Redux | 
pickHarry “Rabbit” Angstrom, now 36 (and a doughy reactionary), deals with the implosion of his marriage and job by allowing the radical summer of ‘69 to literally take up residence in his bland suburban living room…with hilarious and tragic results. What a character: passive, depressed, noble and weak, fiercely traditional yet intrigued by doomed rebels and angered by the narrow-minded neighbors. Updike is on fire, with a fierce, hypnotic style.
Interesting enough in an anthropological sort of way, but reading it's like putting a drain clog in your mouth. It's foul.
Always feel compelled to finish series I've started. :(
pick#litsyatoz complete! And goodreads challenge - 110 books! 1969 rabbit finds himself dealing with changes in his marriage, society, and his mother‘s illness. some parts were graphic and disturbing, the overall sense was of rabbit trying to figure out his life as the world moved past him. in 2016 he would be a trump voter- this book gave me a better understanding of that mindset than anything else I‘ve read. White man in rust belt struggling.
When you‘re not allowed into the basketball game because you brought a backpack...you start a new book while the rest of your family watches the game. This is my last for #litsyatoz #u and the book has this timely and still accurate quote “the republicans don‘t do a thing for the little man.”
pickMore than a year after the first of the series, I read this second part. It didn't matter much, I recognized Harry Angstrom immediately. You have to like him, even though he is disgusting at times. In this novel he is a lousy father, starts with a very conservative political view, is horrible towards Jill, the 18-years old runaway who comes to live with him, lets her be abused by Skeeder etc. And still... He has his good sides as well. #1001books
pickThe second book of this cycle is set ca. 10 years after the first. Rabbit is still a difficult character to follow along on a journey. He is anxious and irrational and seems like he never really grew up, but he also has these moments of utter clarity.
The bigger picture though is what Updike is able to portrait of society at the time. It is easily incorporated in the story and I think that's where the author really shines.
The Rabbit series harsh language, but some of it is just utterly beautiful.
I've officially catalogued every book in my apartment... except for this bear of a shelf. It's basically 95% of my husband's books and a lot are huge hardcovers, so my poor, weak arms are hurting just thinking about all of the book hauling I'll have to do. I don't think this will push us over 1000 books, but it could get close. 📚📚📚📚💪🏼 Nearly done with one of my #bookishresolutions and it's only January 2nd! #iwin
